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Production Company A List: Gorgeous

Published on February 10, 2012.

2011 started off prestigiously for Gorgeous, as Frank Budgen was awarded his second DGA Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Commercials. He was beaten at the finishing line by no less than another Gorgeous roster director, Stacy Wall, also of Imperial Woodpecker. In line with its talent, this year the work from Gorgeous was no let-down either, ranging from high budget blockbusters to fun viral hits.

Some of its most talked-about work appeared online. T-Mobile's Royal Wedding, a viral video from Saatchi & Saatchi directed by Chris Palmer that captured the spirit of Britain's William 'n' Kate moment more than any other related campaign, has had over 24 million views YouTube views and counting.

In a very different style, Palmer directed Kevin Spacey in American Airlines' campaign by McCann London, where he brings to life three different character roles in the 60 second spot, showing how they understand the individual flyer. Palmer's other work during the year included a popcorn spectacular for Orange. Palmer's Gorgeous-produced and funded short film The Boy With Chocolate Fingers went into production in 2011 and will launch straight into the festival circuit, (as did Tom Carty's Gorgeous-produced and funded short 'This Isn't Happening'.)

Another viral effort, for Greenpeace and directed by Peter Thwaites, celebrated '40 Years of Victories' for the movement with a simple but enormously powerful film showing how much the company has pissed off corporate CEOs throughout its history.

On the other end of the scale, Thwaites also shot Johnnie Walker's biggest marketing effort in Brazil, bringing Sugar Loaf mountain to life in a spot for Neogama/BBH symbolizing the country's economic evolution. This huge production employed 420 people across production and post-production – 6 days of shooting, 11 kilometres of film, 2 tons of equipment, 216 extras and 12.150 hours of computer graphics. He was also in fine form for the stylish split-screen scenario for Martini's "Luck is an Attitude" via Fred & Farid, and, via the Anonymous/Gorgeous tie-up brought charming kids' drawings to life and explored every film genre imaginable in a pair of spots for AT&T, out of BBDO New York.

Work for 2010 scored well on the awards circuit during 2011, with Bronze Lions at Cannes for Vince Squibb and Johnny Green, as well as a silver at Eurobest for Palmer's Barnardo's work. And, fresh from its involvement with The Social Network, Gorgeous continued its association with David Fincher's feature projects with U.K. production on The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.